Physical Therapist Resume Complete Guide

Physical Therapist Resume Complete Guide

Writing a resume, especially a medical-related resume can be challenging for many reasons. Physical therapist resume also falls into the same category. If you need to secure a good position in a reputable company, then presenting your resume in the best possible light is the key.

This article walks you through how to write a good physical therapist CV regardless of whether you are an experienced practitioner or a fresh graduate. Also, now you can use our FREE resume builder below to create that job-winning CV.

How to write a Physical Therapist Resume?

1. Study the job description

Tailor making your resume according to each job description that you apply for is important for two reasons. First, you can present yourself as one of the best fits for the position. Secondly, you can determine the keywords used in the job description regarding your qualifications, experience, duties & responsibilities, and skills, and use them in your Physical therapist resume accordingly. Embedding keywords matters if your resume goes through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). However, in doing so make sure, that you are only starting what is completely true about your background.

2. How to write the profile summary of the Physical Therapist Resume?

Your profile summary should highlight the key skills, major experience, and measurable achievements if any. Writing a too-generalized profile summary isn't favorable. Let's analyze a set of profile summaries for a Physical Therapist resume based on your level of expertise.

For an Entry Level Position, you can write a profile summary as given below. Even though it's for an entry-level position, it can be determined as a good example because the candidate emphasizes his/ her skills and competencies as a Physical Therapist.

Entry Level Physical Therapist Resume Summary Example

The summary below is an ideal example of a seasoned Physical Therapist resume. Here, the candidate not only emphasizes his/ her years of experience, and proficiencies but also a measurable achievement.

senior Level Physical Therapist Resume Summary Example

3. The experience section

Use the reverse chronological order to add the employment records to your Physical therapist resume. That means your most recent entries should be entered first and move from there down. Remember only to add the relevant positions to your role. The employment history section is one of the most important sections in the Physical therapist resume as it can be used to highlight your competencies in the role as well and you can use statistics to back what you claim up.

What to include in an employment record?

  • Job Tile
  • Place of employment followed by the city and country.
  • Duration
  • Briefed list of the most important set of duties performed.
Physical Therapist Work History Example

What are proper action verbs for the Physical Therapist Resume?

Given below are some of the action verbs that you can use in your physical therapist CV. You can determine action verbs from the job description as well.

  • Supervised | Administered
  • Appraised | Diagnosed | Examined
  • Communicated/Corresponded
  • Synchronized/Integrated/Coordinated
  • Formulated/Developed/Established
  • Delivered/Provided/Dispensed
  • Designed/Drafted
  • Educated/ Instructed/Trained
  • Appraised/Evaluated/Reviewd
  • Implemented/Executed/Enacted
  • Improved/Enhanced/Optimized
  • Managed/Supervised/Directed/Contralled
  • Prescribed/Recommended
  • Rehabilitated/Rehabbed
  • However, while writing your resume, make sure not to include buzzwords and cliches as it reduces the overall quality and professionalism of your resume. If you are not sure if your resume contains buzzwords, use our Buzzword Scanner tool below, as it helps you to figure out buzzwords and replace them with better words.

    4. The education qualification section

    In the medical field, a strong, relevant educational background is compulsory to be selected as a competent candidate. Your education records should reflect that your coursework is comprehensive enough to cater to the licensing requirements. Also, if you have obtained specialized education such as orthopedics, neurology, etc., make sure to include them as well.

    In an education record, you should include the name of the qualification, awarding body, and graduated year/ month as depicted below.

    Education Example

    Apart from the education qualifications, adding your licenses is very important in any job in the medical field. Also, include any relevant membership that you possess in your Physical therapist resume in the format below.

    License Record Example is depicted below.

    Physical Therapist License Example

    The physical therapist membership record example is depicted below.

    Membership Example

    5. What skills should be added to the Physical Therapist's CV?

    Emphasized below are some general and specialized skills that you can use on the Curriculum Vitae of a Physical Therapist. These skills can serve as keywords too.

    Also, now you can use our Resume Keyword Finder tool below to determine the presence of relevant keywords in your Physical therapist CV.

    General Skills and Proficiencies

    Communication Problem Solving Clinical Assessment
    Treatment Planning Rehabilitation Techniques Time-management
    Adaptability Manual Therapy Empathy
    Patient Education Collaboration Critical Thinking
    Interpersonal Skills Technology Proficiency Documentation

    Specialized Skills

    • Electrotherapy
    • Gait Analysis
    • Orthopedic Manual Therapy
    • Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation
    • Prosthetics and Orthotics
    • Kinesiology Taping
    • Neurological Rehabilitation
    • Wound Care
    • Biofeedback
    • Telehealth and Tele-Rehabilitation

    Physical Therapist Resume Format / Template / Example


    Check out the complete Physical Therapist Resume Example below.

    Physical Therapist Resume Template

    Apart from the key takeaways from above, make sure to keep the following key points in mind.

    • Use a custom-made cover letter.
    • Keep the font size of the body text 11 pts/ 12 pts, while making the section headers bigger.
    • Use the reverse chronological order.
    • Format your Physical Therapist CV to a maximum of two pages.

    Also, check out our resume sample page to see other possibilities of a vast array of resumes you can write such as Certified Nurse Resume Sample, Pharmacist Resume Sample, and many more.

    You can now request a free Physical Therapy Resume template below.